Improvement in water-wheels



1. L. HELMER.

Water-Wheel.

Patented Oct. 11, 1875.

No.l68,641.

l- A m N PETERS. FHOWUTNOGRAPKER. WASHINGTON, D Iv by another.

UNI ED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JAMES L. HELMER, OF ROME, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,641, dated October11, 1875; application filed July 31, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. HELMEE, of

- Rome, in the county of Oneida and State of New-York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Water-Wheels; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to. which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in water-wheels; and it consisthe construction and arrangement of parts that will be more fullydescribed hereafter, whereby tight joints between all of the workingparts are formed to prevent leakage, and the construction of the wheelis cheapened and improved.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

a represents thecurb, having the chutes 1) formed between its upper andlower parts, and having the circular groove 0 formed in its top, intowhich groove fits the lower edge of the dome d, so as to form awater-tight joint at this point. Through the center of the dome is madean opening, down through which projects the lower part of the bearingbox0, which box is bolted, or otherwise secured, to the dome. This box anddome are made in separate parts, so that when the box becomes worn bythe constant friction of the shaft, it can readily be removed andreplaced Around the outer edges of the top of the box is formed a widflange, that forms a means of attachment for the follower g. Between thecurb and the wheel is placed the gate h,- which has a flange, 2', formed.around'its outer top edge for lapping over the top of the curb, for thedouble purpose of forming a water-tight joint and supporting the gate inposition. Upon the inner edge of the gate is formed a second flange, j,which extends out over the outer edge of the wheel, and which flange hasa recess, 1, cut in its under side, so as to receive the flange 2,formed on the top edge of the wheel. Dovetailed in the top of this gateis an arm, Z, that is bifurcated at its outer-end, as shown, and has aneye or ring, m, formed in its inner end, for fitting snugly around theextension n of the bearing-box e. This arm or lever has a twofoldfunction-that of moving the gate back and forth for closing and openingit, and that of preventing any side movement, friction, or play on thegate while moving.

By clasping tightly around this extension the arm holds the gate firmlyin position, and prevents any unnecessary wear and tear should the wheelnot be set even and true.

Passing down through the dome is a short shaft, 0, that has attached toits end a disk, 3, or crank, to which is eccentrically attached a smallfriction-roller, 4, that catches and works between the divided end ofthe arm 1.

By turning the shaft 0 continuously in either direction the gate will beopened its full distance and then closed again.

These operating devices differ in action from the wheels now in use,inasmuch as most others can be turned only so far in one direction andthen must be reversed, while this one can be turned continuously ineither direction.

The buckets of the wheel are of such a shape as to act by impact,weight, and re- Having thus described my invention, I

claim-- 1. The gate h, having the flange j, recess 1, and flange 2 onthe wheel, as specified.

2. The hub a, formed as shown, and having a flange, 2,;,;formed aroundits top, as set forth.

3. The combination of the gate h, arm I, and. extension n, as shownanddescribed.

4. The combination of the shaft 0, disk or (raInk 3, friction-roller 4,and. arm 1, as speci- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I havehereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of July, 1875.

. JAMES L. HELMER. [L. s.] Witnesses:

E. L. STEVENS,

WILLARD RINKLE.

